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    USB Graphics Cards?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Central, Mar 14, 2006.

  1. Central

    Central Notebook Consultant

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    This may be a daft question, but can you get graphics cards which you can use through USB?
     
    Central, Mar 14, 2006
    #1
  2. flanken

    flanken Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    Unfortunately, you can't. USB simply can't provide the huge bandwidth that graphics cards require to function properly.
     
    flanken, Mar 14, 2006
    #2
  3. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    Central,
    Currently there are no USB graphics cards out there. That's not to say it won't happen.
    Tim
     
    Tim, Mar 14, 2006
    #3
  4. Rahul

    Rahul Notebook Prophet

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    I really wish we could have some sort of external video card as there are many notebooks out there which have great specs for gaming but are crippled by integrated graphics such as mine. :(
     
    Rahul, Mar 14, 2006
    #4
  5. Darkforce5782

    Darkforce5782 Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah USB Video cards are not possible right now since USB 2.0 can only handle only about 480MB/sec and the average badwidth of a modren video card is about 10GB/s and up to 36GB/s for the top of the line video cards.

    I heard something a while back about some type of a new Card bus spec (they might be replacing it with PCI-e I think) that's going to replace the current aging PCIMA. I can't remember where I found this at but there was some talk about that this new card bus spec might lead to the devlopment of "External Video Cards"

    I don't see External video cards comming to the market for a very long time.
     
    Darkforce5782, Mar 14, 2006
    #5
  6. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

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    Can't you get PCMIA Graphics Cards rahul?
     
    Lil Mayz, Mar 14, 2006
    #6
  7. dr_st

    dr_st Notebook Deity

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    Next we'll get USB RAM... USB CPUs...

    Ever tried pulling out your teeth through your arse? That's the earthly equivalent of a USB video card.

    :p :p :p
     
    dr_st, Mar 14, 2006
    #7
  8. tullnd

    tullnd Notebook Evangelist

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    They do make USB devices that can do extended desktops though...so USB graphics are in theory available...but the bus is just horrible for transferring serious amounts of data. Even a standard windows desktop will have delays over a USB 2.0 bus. The sustained data rate of USB 2.0 is atrocious frankly...and could never begin to support 3d video data.
     
    tullnd, Mar 14, 2006
    #8